No worries for city water supply

Tuesday

Jun 4, 2013 at 1:00 PM

Supply from Hazel Creek Lake, Forest Lake could survive long term without more rain

The city has a reliable water source for years to come in Hazel Creek Lake, the City Council was told during its boat-tour of the lake Monday, as the group completes a introduction to city-owned facilities and properties.

With the city drawing from either Hazel Creek Lake or Forest Lake at Thousand Hills throughout the year, in particular with last year's significant periods of drought, Public Works Director John Buckwalter assured the Council that each day the city uses its typical three-million gallons of water the lake drops about a quarter of an inch.

"Right now both Hazel Creek and Forest Lake are both very healthy," he said. "We will have a supply to come for decades but it takes a long time to build a lake or reservoir or work out an agreement."

Buckwalter pointed out that if water supplies dwindled in the coming years, a reservoir currently under planning for construction in northeast Missouri could take on the Public Water Supply District's demand, which would free up about 25 percent of the city's supply.

"But we have years of water to come even if we don't get any rain," he said.

Rain hasn't been an issues recently, with Hazel Creek swelling due to recent heavy storms.

The lake, where fishing and water recreation without the use of gasoline-powered motors is allowed, was developed and built by the city in the 1980s expressly as a water supply. The about 550 acres of water is surrounded by both public and private lands, as opposed to Forest Lake and its location in the midst of the state park.

The lake has been utilized as the city's water supply since January and is also managed as a fishery for muskellunge.

The Council's tour concluded a series of infrastructure inspections as a chance for the group of nearly all first-time members to become familiar with city facilities like Public Works, the wastewater treatment plant and the city-owned lakes in the area.

The Council also voted to amend its ordinance governing swimming at the Thousand Hills swim beach, which just recently returned to the management of the state. The amendment will remove the requirement for a lifeguard to be on duty since the Thousand Hills Park concessionaire will no longer be providing a lifeguard or management of the beach. Instead, the beach will be open to the public from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. from Memorial Day to Labor Day.

According to the staff report, the city was provided assurance by its liability insurer that it would have coverage for unsupervised usage as long as the risk is clearly posted. The state will maintain the beach area, dressing rooms, fencing and swim buoys.

Council also approved a lot split for land located in the 1900 block of E. La Harpe St., with the Kirksville Country Club purchasing the new 1.5 acre lot and adding it to its current property.

The Council also approved its first round of annual liquor license renewals for the coming year.

The first of two rounds included 19 businesses requesting 29 licenses with renewal forms mailed to 43 businesses.

Two other notes of interest from Monday's City Council meeting:

- Council approved the purchase of a 1,000-gallon trailer-mounted asphalt distributor from low-bidder G.W. Van Keppel Company for $43,200.

- Council approved the purchase of a cold planer attachment for asphalt or pavement milling from low-bidder Roland Machinery for $14,478.